By contributing writers Samantha Wheeler ‘27 and Moriyah Campbell ‘28

Many kids in America view Thanksgiving as just an extra break between Halloween and Christmas; they don’t think about what the real purpose is all about. But students at Jamesville DeWitt are looking deeper into what Thanksgiving is all about.

Students have expressed that the holiday season, to them, is all about family. Seniors William Hunter Jr. and Danielle Patterson are going to spend Thanksgiving with their families this year eating their favorite Thanksgiving foods. Patterson’s Thanksgiving thrives by inviting tons of family and family friends who might not have anything going on, listening to music, and also just having fun. Patterson’s family starts preparing the day before Thanksgiving to have it set for the next day.

Junior Carsyn Geisler Price spends Thanksgiving with lots of people like family and even students from Syracuse University that might not have anywhere to go on Thanksgiving. Junior Will Vingeault shares how his family traditions on Thanksgiving include eating food, watching hockey, and watching football.

On Thanksgiving, Sophomore Sage Kennedy celebrates the holiday at her grandparents house with all her relatives, and helps her family prepare food. Sophomore Valentina Nasseer travels to Connecticut to spend time with her grandparents and other family members for her Thanksgiving. Freshman Avery Pickard has lots of family traditions including carving pumpkins at her grandparents and celebrating thanksgiving there. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends throughout the holidays. To prepare for thanksgiving, Freshman Eva Salaman’s family decorates and prepares food for her grandparents house.

Though many students like Hunter and Vingeault enjoy Thanksgiving, they both agree that Christmas is still their favorite holiday. Vigneault says that Christmas is more meaningful to him because “It’s a better feeling and a better time” but he also shows some appreciation for Thanksgiving by stating that it’s the “lead up” to Christmas. Kennedy thinks Christmas is more meaningful because she gets to spend time with her immediate family instead of extended. Kennedy states that “More memories get created during Christmas.”

Naseer also likes Christmas more because it’s more “meaningful” because her grandparents get to come up which is a year round thing. Pickard thinks that Christmas is more meaningful than Christmas and stated, “I have already started decorating.”

Salaman thinks that Christmas is a more meaningful holiday because she gets to spend more time with her family. Even though Hunter is a bigger fan of Christmas than Thanksgiving he agrees with Geisler-Price that playing Christmas music, and decorating should wait until after Thanksgiving. However, Vigneault thinks that Christmas music and the spirit should start on Nov. 1. Naseer thinks that Christmas spirits should start in the middle of November.